hey everyone i just registered on lapbandtalk.com today, therefore this is my first post! let me introduce myself: I am Tara, 22 years old, 5'5" and weighs 305lbs. I have JUST begun my journey, well actually I haven't even began it yet.

Tomorrow is my first appointment with a weight loss doctor to start my 6 months of medically supervised weight loss. I am very excited about meeting my doctor and when I go tomorrow I am going to let him know that I am interested in the lap band surgery. I currently have a BMI of 50, and with my insurance you have to have a BMI of 40 or BMI of 35 + a comorbid disorder.

Feasibly, I don't see me getting down from 305 to 240 (a 40 BMI) in six months. Does anybody else? So hopefully, after 6 months, I will still be eligble for the lapband.

I've made a seminar date, though, already for the lapband procedure on June 18th.

Wish me luck!

And good luck to all those waiting your surgery and congrats to all of those who have already lost weight!

well i definitely hope not. :rolleyes2: also with my insurance if you haave a BMI of 35 plus a co-morbid condition (pulmonary hypertension, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure, etc.)... i am almost postive i have sleep apnea, so i'm also bringing up a sleep study tomorrow with my doctor. this way, i'll have that extra cush in case i don't meet requirements after weight loss.. idk. anyway..

does ur insurance have the comorbid condition clause? and if so, do u think u need to be checked for any of those conditions? let's be hopeful

Hi, Tara. What is your BMI? Most insurance companies cover you without a co-morbidity if your BMI is over 40. Mine was just over 40 with no real co-morbidities and is being covered. When I started the program, my BMI was over 40 and is now under 40 with insurance still covering. At least with my insurance company, they go off your initial weight.

hey everyone :rolleyes2: i just registered on lapbandtalk.com today, therefore this is my first post! let me introduce myself: I am Tara, 22 years old, 5'5" and weighs 305lbs. I have JUST begun my journey, well actually I haven't even began it yet.

Hi Tara, Making the appointment was your beginning, so yes, you are already on the journey.

I currently have a BMI of 50, and with my insurance you have to have a BMI of 40 or BMI of 35 + a comorbid disorder.

Feasibly, I don't see me getting down from 305 to 240 (a 40 BMI) in six months. Does anybody else? So hopefully, after 6 months, I will still be eligble for the lapband.

You don't have to lose to a 40 BMI to get the surgery! You have to be over 40 (or over 35 with the comorbidities), so don't stress too much about disqualifying yourself for surgery because you can't get to a 40 BMI during your 6 month diet.

I've made a seminar date, though, already for the lapband procedure on June 18th.

See, I told you that you were already on the journey! Good luck! And my three peices of best advice to you is to read this board, read this board, and read this board. This is a great place for support:thumbup:

You don't have to lose to a 40 BMI to get the surgery! You have to be over 40 (or over 35 with the comorbidities), so don't stress too much about disqualifying yourself for surgery because you can't get to a 40 BMI during your 6 month diet.

I think she was saying she wasn't in fear of being denied after the 6 months because her BMI went below 40. At least that was the way I interpreted it when I responded and hope I wasn't wrong! :confused2:

I think she was saying she wasn't in fear of being denied after the 6 months because her BMI went below 40. At least that was the way I interpreted it when I responded and hope I wasn't wrong! :confused2:

hey everybody! kathy, you're right - i am NOT in fear of being denied because I know my BMI will remain above a 40, EVEN after 6 months of weight loss.

i was, in the beginning, confused about which BMI they go off of - the BMI BEFORE i started my 6 months or my BMI after I finished. I know now they go off my initial BMI. :rolleyes2:

so i went to the doctor today, and they basically just went over my plan with me, but today was just a measurement/weighing/blood taking appt.

By the scales at the doctor, I weigh 299.5, 45 bust, 42 waist, 57 hips. I go next friday to talk with the actual doctor and get my medicine, and my nurse told me that THAT is when i need to bring up lap-band.

Well, I went to my PCP today and brought up the Lap Band. I was all prepared for a fight, but my doctor was surprisingly supportive! She gave me the name of a bariatric surgeon to call and a psychologist to talk to. Sooo...I sort of feel I might be on my way to really doing this! I plan to join Weight Watchers next week, which according to Cigna's (my insurance) guidelines is an acceptable program to follow for my six months of dieting.

I am in the process of trying to contact Kaiser (my old insurance) to obtain any medical records with my weight recorded...but I threw away my old card with my ID number and all the contact numbers ask you for your ID number right away. Hmmm...I'm sure there is a way to get in touch with them though.

I'm feeling less intimidated already. I think I can do this!:rolleyes2:

I think she was saying she wasn't in fear of being denied after the 6 months because her BMI went below 40. At least that was the way I interpreted it when I responded and hope I wasn't wrong! :confused2:

I'm on lortab, I'm allowed to misinterpret! I just read it wrong, and I'm blaming the meds.:rolleyes2:

haha sounds good to me :rolleyes2:

Congratulations to both of you! The ball is rolling!!

*happy dance*

Tara, have you made an appt. with a surgeon yet? That's my goal this week...and with the psychologist. I am PRAYING that my bank records of my year at Slim4Life will count for the diet thing (Cigna says that if you are morbidly obese than proof of a diet program followed for at least six months in the last five years could count instead of doing the six months supervised now...all I have are my bank statements...we'll see if they accept that). I don't want to wait six more months just to SEE if insurance will approve me...but if that's what I gotta do I will. I think it would be foolish to not try and have insurance cover the surgery...why pay yourself when you don't have to?

Keep me posted on your status with everything!

Edited May 27, 200818 yr by Bethanyblondie

welcome to LBT!

Hey Go Big Girl...just curious how you are doing? I've been a little sidetracked because I went on vacation. I had an appt. with a psychologist a week and a half ago and she didn't show up for my appt. She called apologizing profusely...saying she got the times mixed up and if I would give her another chance she'd waive the co-pay. So I have my new appt. this Thursday. Now I just need to visit with the surgeon. I'm starting Weight Watchers next week as well.

Anyways, just was curious how things were going with you!